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(No Model.)

I'. A. FLETCHER..

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING HAMMOGKS.

N0. 328,474. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

WITNESSES N. PETERS. Fhalllhogmphur. Wnhingwn. Dy C.

turn rares FRANK A. FLETCHER, OF VATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING HAMIVIOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 328,474, dated October20, 1885.

Application tiled J une 20, 1884. Serial No. 135,516.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. FLETCHER, a citizen ofthe United States,and a resident of IVatertown, in the county of Jefferson and State ofNew York, have invented certain Improved Devices for SupportingHammocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification.

My improved devices are designed especially to be used in connectionwith a movable framework to attach a hammock thereto 5 and theirconstruction and arrangement are such that,

they may be used with any style or size of hammock; that they maysupport the hammock at any desired height or position, and that by theiremployment the hammock may be quickly and easily adj usted from oneheight or position to another. These devices consist of two separateattachments, one of which is a band or clevis which embraces a suitablepart of the supporting frame-work, and which can be used independentlyof the other attachment, and the other attachment is a double hook whichis used in connection with the clevis when a small-sized hammock isused, or when it is desired to support a large hammock in positions nototherwise attainable or between supports at a great distance apart.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a suitable frame-work and ahammock supported thereon by the band or clevis alone. Fig. 2 is a viewof a portion of a fra1ne,show ing the method of using both attachments.Fig. 3 is a det-ail plan view,on a large scale,of the attaching deviceshown in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of thedouble hook.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

A is a suitable supporting frame-work having inclined braced strips B B,between which the hammock G is suspended.

For attaching the hammock to the braced strips, B B, I use a band orclevis, D, which embraces the strip B,and can be easily slipped alongthe strip to any desired position, as it is not necessary that it shouldht the strip closely. As shown in Fig. 3, the clevis isprovidedwithtwooppositely-extendinghooks, a a, over which the loop b ofthe hammock is (No model.)

passed. The downward pressure of the hammock, when occupied, entirelyprevents the clevises D D from slipping down the strips B B, and retainsthem iirmly in position; but when the hammock is not occupied theclevises can be easily slipped up or down to suit the position or heightdesired.

But in many cases it will be found that the loops b b of the hammockcannot be passed over the hooks a c of the clevises-as, for eX- ample,where a very small hammock is used, it not being in consequence longenough to reach the hooks when it is desired to support the hammock veryhigh, or in case the clevises are situated at a great distance apart, asthey may be, since the use of my improved devices is not necessarilylimited to frameworks of the character shown. In all such and similarcases I use in connection with the clevis D the attachment E. (Shown inFigs. 2 and 4.) This attachment is provided with oppositely-extendinghooks e e, over which the loop b of the hammock is passed. To thisattachment is secured a lengtheningcord, G, which might be provided witha loop to pass over the hooks a a of the clevis. I prefer, however, touse a single cord with no loop, as shown in Fig. 2, because in this caseany length of the cord may be utilized,and an additional means foradjusting the hammock is provided. The free end of this cord is passedbetween the inner bar, c', of the clevis and the strip B. The downwardpressure ofthe hammock, when occupied, presses down the inner bar, c',of the clevis upon the free end of the cord, thus clamping it tightlyagainst the strip B, and preventing it from being pulled out of place.

To prevent the cord from slipping sidewise along the bar ,the bari isformed on its outer edge with a notch, m, in which the cord is retained.

In order that the clevis may iit the strip B as closely as possiblewithout interfering with its easy adjustment, the bar i is formed on itsinner edge with a notch, s. The employment of this notch leaves a spacebetween the bar c' and the strip B, through which the free end of thecord G is passed, the depth of the notch being less than the diameter ofthe cord, so that the clamping of the cord by the downward pressure maystill be provided for. This IOO feature is especiallypimportant, as itis desirable that the clevis shall havel as little play as possible onthe strip B, and the same clevis is to be used whether the hammock issupported by the clevis alone or by the clevis and attachment Etogether. Y r

To secure the cord G to the attachment E, said attachment is formedwithA a central aperture, t, preferably cone-shaped, as shown. The cordis knotted at one end, and the other end is passed through this aperturet, the knot preventing the cord from passing entirely through, and thecone shape of the aperture permitting the knot to be entirely concealed.

The olevis D and attachment E are prefer'- ably made of cast-iron, asthe most economical material; but theyl maybe made of any other metal orof any other suitable material.

I claim as my invention"- i v 1. A devicefor supporting hammocks,consisting of a clevisformedwith a central opening, whereby it mayembrace a supportingframe, and with a notch or recess, m, on the outeredge of itsinner side or bar, in which` notch the hammock-rope is held,substantial] y as set forth.

2. A device for supporting hammocks, consisting of a clevis formed witha central opening, and with a notch or recess, s, on the inner edge ofits inner side or bar, in Which notch the hammookrope is held,substantially as set forth.

3. A device for supporting hammocks, consisting of a clevis formed Witha central opening, and With notches or recesses m and s on "oppositeedges of its inner side, in which notches the hammock-rope is held,substantially as set forth.

4. A hammock-supporting clevis having a' central opening, notches orrecesses m and s on opposite edges of its inner side, and hooks a.'aextending outwardly in opposite directions from the inner bar onopposite sides of the notch m, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name before two Witnesses.

FRANK A. FLETCHER.

Witnesses: y

J. C. KNOWLTON, GEO. S. KNOWLTON.

